Sprinkler head



July 11, 1939 w. B. GRIFFITH 2,165,477 l SPRINKLEB HEAD Filed March 13, 1937 Patented July 1l, 1939 UNITED STATES Parri-:Nr OFFICE Application March 13,

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in sprinkler heads of the type used in lire-extinguishing systems, particularly to automatic fire apparatus.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved sprinkler head which will normally hold the valve of the sprinkler head closed and which will operate quickly and eciently for opening the valve upon the occurrence of excessive temperature in the zone surrounding the sprinkler head. A further object is to provide a sprinkler head having a resilient strut and an angle lever mounted upon the strut with the longer arm of the lever in sliding contact with the strut for holding the lever against rotation and permitting the strut to be placed under compression, without restriction by said arm, and when released the resilient strut will insure the ejection of the parts and the rapid opening of the valve.

A further object is to construct the strut with a central opening through which one arm of the lever extends and is engaged by the strut.

A further object is to provide a U-shaped strut in the form of a split ring, or a bifurcated plate, and mount a lever upon the free ends of the forks, for rotation through the strut.

A further object is to mount a key upon the lever by means of fusible material for normally holding-the key in sliding engagement with the strut. 'Y These together with various other novel features of construction and arrangement of the parts, which'wll be more fully hereinafter described and claimed, constitute my invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged side elevation of my improved sprinkler head.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a different form of strut.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 Fig. 3.

In the drawing, in which like reference characters refer to like parts, 5 represents the sprinkler head comprising a body 6, forming a nozzle having a passageway extending through the longitudinal axis of the body. A valve seat l is formed upon the body and surrounds said passageway. An open frame, or yoke 8 is mounted upon the body and forms a bearing 9 for an adjustable abutment l0, formed upon a screw l2 upon which is secured the usual deflector I3. Said screw is located upon said axis and in spaced relation to the valve seat l.

A valve l5 is removably mounted upon the seat l, and is provided with a central boss forming an abutment I6.

1937, Serial No. 130,621

A resilient strut I8 is mounted upon one of said abutments, preferably upon the valve abutment I6. Said strut is inclined relatively to said axis and terminates adjacent to and in spaced relation to the opposite one of said abutments.

A lever 2E] is provided, and comprises a fulcrum bearing 2l, a short arm 22, and a long arm 23, said arms are formed integral with the bearing 2l. The long arm 23 extends approximately at right angles'to the short arm 22, which latter is engaged by the abutment I0. The bearingil is pivotally and detachably mounted upon the strut at a point diametrically opposite to the closed portion of the strut which is mounted upon the abutment I 6.

The free end of the long arm 23 terminates adjacent to the portion of the strut which is mounted upon the abutment I6, and said long arm is in engagement with the strut for preventing rotation of the lever when said abutments are moved relatively to each other for placing the parts under compression and holding the valve upon its seat. Thelong arm 23 extends approximately parallel with the plane of the strut and also with said axis, and therefore, it is free to slide upon the part of the strut which holds the lever against rotation when the strut and the lever are compressed between the abutments.

Collapsible means are provided for releasing the lever when the temperature rises above a predetermined point, which consists of a key 25, preferably mounted upon the lever arm 23. The arm 23 is formed with a pocket 26 extending parallel with the length of the arm, and said pocket is of sufcient length to entirely receive the key within the same. The key 25 is normally held extended beyond the end of the arm 23 by fusible material, such as solder 2l, which is conned under the compression exerted by the key, and it is not subject to fracture by shearing strains. When the fusible material 21 is melted it will escape from the pocket around the key and allow the key to enter the pocket, thus releasing the lever from the strut.

The struts shown in the drawing are in the form of U-shaped, or bifurcated members. In Figs. l and 2 the U-shaped strut is in the form of a split ring I8 with the lever 20 pivoted upon the adjacent ends of the forks 30 and 3l, and the intermediate portion of the ring is mounted upon the valve abutment I6. The curved forks of the ring have sufcient resiliency to allow the strut to be placed under compression for insuring the rapid ejection of the parts when the strut is released.

Figs. 3 and 4 show the strut in the form of a bifurcated or U-shaped plate 35, having the lever 20 pivotally mounted upon the free ends of the forks 36, and the closed, or intermediate portion 38 mounted upon the abutment I6. The plate 35 is corrugated throughout the length of the forks for making the strut resilient.

The fulcrum bearing 2| of the lever 20 is provided with side extensions 40 and 4| which project over the ends of the forks 30 and 3| of the strut I8, and the ends of the forks 36 and 31 of the strut 35. The bearing extensions 40 and 4| have semicylindrical recesses 42-42 formed therein, which recesses are occupied by the forks of the struts for preventing the levers from slipping off the forks when the struts and levers are placed under compression between the abutments. The web portions 43 of the lever 20 occupies the space between the forks of the strut and prevents any lateral movement of the lever relatively to the strut. By this construction the lever will readily separate from the strut when the parts of the lever are released, thus insuring the rapid opening of the valve.

When the fusible material 21 is melted the movement of the parts is increased in the speed of operation. by the expansive action of the strut. At the instant the key 25 starts to enter the pocket 26 the long arm 23y will be rotated in a direction toward the plane of the strut, about the abutment I0, and also away from the abutment I6, by the expansive action of the strut.

Various changes in the construction and operation of the parts may be made without departing from my invention.

I claim:

l. A sprinkler head comprising a body having a passageway formed through the longitudinal axis thereof, a valve forming an abutment adapted for closing said passageway, a frame upon said body, an abutment upon the frame and adjustable relatively to the valve abutment, a resilient strut having a central opening, said strut having one portion thereof mounted upon said valve abutment, a lever fulcrumed upon the opposite portion of said strut, a shortarm` of the lever engaging said adjustable abutment and positioning said fulcrum at one side of said axis, a long arm of the lever positioned' at approximately right angles to the short arm and adapted to swing through said opening of the strut to a position with its free end upon the opposite side of said axis relatively to the fulcrum, said long arm having an elongated pocket extending parallel with the length of the long arm and open at the free end of the latter, a key mounted for longitudinal movement within said pocket, fusible material confined Within said pocket under compression by force applied to the key and normally holding the key extended beyond the free. end of the long arm for engagement with said strut, said key and said strut having coacting surfaces in sliding engagement adapted for the free longitudinal movement of the long arm and the key thereon relatively to the strut in a line approximately parallel with said axis when the adjustable abutment is actuated for placing the strut and lever under compression between said abutments.

2. A sprinkler head comprising a body having a passageway formed through the longitudinal axis. thereof, a valve forming an abutment and adapted for closing said passageway, a frame upon said body, an abutment upon the frame and adjustable relatively to the valve abutment, a split ring forming a, resilient strut having its medial portion mounted upon the valve abutment, a lever having a fulcrum bearing pivotally mounted upon the free ends of the ring, a short arm of the lever engaging the adjustable abutment andpositioning the fulcrum bearing at one side of said axis, a long arm of the lever positioned at approximately right angles to the short arm and adapted to swing through the ring to a position with its free end upon the opposite side of said axis relatively to the fulcrum bearing, said long arm havingv an elongated pocket extending parallel with the length of the long' arm and open at the free end of the latter, a key mounted for longitudinal movement Within said pocket,l fusible material within said pocket normally holding the key extended beyond the long arm and adapted to be placed under compression within said pocket by the engagement of the key with the ring, said key and said ring having coacting surfaces in sliding engagement adapted for the free longitudinal movement of the long arm and the key relatively to the medial portion of the ring in a line approximately parallel with said axis when said adjustable abutment is actuated by placing the ring and lever under compression between said abutments.

WILLIAM B. GRIFFITH. 

